Selections from the Speeches and Writings of Edmund Burke
CONTENTS
Id dico, eum qui sit orator, virum bonum esse oportere. In omnibus quae dicit tanta auctoritas inest, ut dissentire pudeat; nec advocati studium, sed testis aut judicis afferat fidem. —Quintilianus.
Democracy is the most monstrous of all governments, because it is impossible at once to act and control; and, consequently, the Sovereign Power is then left without any restraint whatever. That form of government is the best which places the efficient direction in the hands of the aristocracy, subjecting them in its exercise to the control of the people at large. —Sir James Mackintosh.
The intellectual homage of more than half a century has assigned to Edmund Burke a lofty pre-eminence in the aristocracy of mind, and we may justly assume succeeding ages will confirm the judgment which the Past has thus pronounced. His biographical history is so popularly known, that it is almost superfluous to record it in this brief introduction. It may, however, be summed up in a few sentences. He was born at Dublin in 1730. His father was an attorney in extensive practice, and his mother's maiden name was Nogle, whose family was respectable, and resided near Castletown, Roche, where Burke himself received five years of boyish education under the guidance of a rustic schoolmaster. He was entered at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1746, but only remained there until 1749. In 1753 he became a member of the Middle Temple, and maintained himself chiefly by literary toil. Bristol did itself the honour to elect him for her representative in 1774, and after years of splendid usefulness and mental triumph, as an orator, statesman, and patriot, he retired to his favourite retreat, Beaconsfield, in Buckinghamshire, where he died on July 9th, 1797. He was buried here; and the pilgrim who visits the grave of this illustrious man, when he gazes on the simple tomb which marks the earthly resting place of himself, brother, son, and widow, may feelingly recall his own pathetic wish uttered some forty years before, in London:— I would rather sleep in the southern corner of a little country churchyard, than in the tomb of the Capulets. I should like, however, that my dust should mingle with kindred dust. The good old expression, 'family burying-ground,' has something pleasing in it, at least to me. Alluding to his approaching dissolution, he thus speaks, in a letter addressed to a relative of his earliest schoolmaster:— I have been at Bath these four months for no purpose, and am therefore to be removed to my own house at Beaconsfield to-morrow, to be nearer a habitation more permanent, humbly and fearfully hoping that my better part may find a better mansion. It is a source of deep thankfulness for those who reverence the genius and eloquence of this great man, to state, that Burke's religion was that of the Cross, and to find him speaking of the Intercession of our Redeeming Lord, as what he had long sought with unfeigned anxiety, and to which he looked with trembling hope. The commencing paragraph in his Will also authenticates the genuine character of his personal Christianity. According to the ancient, good, and laudable custom, of which my heart and understanding recognise the propriety, I BEQUEATH MY SOUL TO GOD, HOPING FOR HIS MERCY ONLY THROUGH THE MERITS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. My body I desire to be buried in the church of Beaconsfield, near to the bodies of my dearest brother, and my dearest son, in all humility praying, that as we have lived in perfect unity together, we may together have part in the resurrection of the just. (In the Epistolary Correspondence of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke and Dr. French Laurence , Rivingtons, London, 1827), are several touching allusions to that master-grief which threw a mournful shadow over the closing period of Burke's life. In one letter the anxious father says, The fever continues much as it was. He sleeps in a very uneasy way from time to time?-but his strength decays visibly, and his voice is, in a manner, gone. But God is all-sufficient—and surely His goodness and his mother's prayers may do much (page 30). Again, in another communication addressed to his revered correspondent, we find a beautiful allusion to his departed son, which involves his belief in that most soothing doctrine of the Church,—a recognition of souls in the kingdom of the Beatified. Here I am in the last retreat of hunted infirmity; I am indeed 'aux abois.' But, as through the whole of a various and long life I have been more indebted than thankful to Providence, so I am now singularly so, in being dismissed, as hitherto I appear to be, so gently from life, AND SENT TO FOLLOW THOSE WHO IN COURSE OUGHT TO HAVE FOLLOWED ME, WHOM, I TRUST, I SHALL YET, IN SOME INCONCEIVABLE MANNER, SEE AND KNOW; AND BY WHOM I SHALL BE SEEN AND KNOWN (pages 53, 54).
Edmund Burke
SELECTIONS FROM THE SPEECHES AND WRITINGS OF EDMUND BURKE.
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.
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APPENDIX.
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SELECTIONS FROM THE SPEECHES AND WRITINGS OF EDMUND BURKE.
NATURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
RETROSPECT AND RESIGNATION.
MODESTY OF MIND.
NEWTON AND NATURE.
THEORY AND PRACTICE.
INDUCTION AND COMPARISON.
DIVINE POWER ON THE HUMAN IDEA.
UNION OF LOVE AND DREAD IN RELIGION.
OFFICE OF SYMPATHY.
WORDS.
NATURE ANTICIPATES MAN.
SELF-INSPECTION.
POWER OF THE OBSCURE.
FEMALE BEAUTY.
NOVELTY AND CURIOSITY.
PLEASURES OF ANALOGY.
AMBITION.
EXTENSIONS OF SYMPATHY.
PHILOSOPHY OF TASTE.
CLEARNESS AND STRENGTH IN STYLE.
UNITY OF IMAGINATION.
EFFECT OF WORDS.
INVESTIGATION.
THE SUBLIME.
OBSCURITY.
PRINCIPLES OF TASTE.
THE BEAUTIFUL.
THE REAL AND THE IDEAL.
JUDGMENT IN ART.
MORAL EFFECTS OF LANGUAGE.
SECURITY OF TRUTH.
IMITATION AN INSTINCTIVE LAW.
STANDARD OF REASON AND TASTE.
USE OF THEORY.
POLITICAL OUTCASTS.
INJUSTICE TO OUR OWN AGE.
FALSE COALITIONS.
POLITICAL EMPIRICISM.
A VISIONARY.
PARTY DIVISIONS.
DECORUM IN PARTY.
NOT SO BAD AS WE SEEM.
POLITICS WITHOUT PRINCIPLE.
MORAL DEBASEMENT PROGRESSIVE.
DESPOTISM.
JUDGMENT AND POLICY.
POPULAR DISCONTENT.
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR RULERS.
GOVERNMENT FAVOURITISM.
ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION.
INFLUENCE OF THE CROWN.
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
FALLACY OF EXTREMES.
PRIVATE CHARACTER A BASIS FOR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
PREVENTION.
CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE.
FALSE MAXIMS ASSUMED AS FIRST PRINCIPLES.
LORD CHATHAM.
GRENVILLE.
CHARLES TOWNSHEND.
PARTY AND PLACE.
POLITICAL CONNECTIONS.
NEUTRALITY.
WEAKNESS IN GOVERNMENT.
AMERICAN PROGRESS.
COMBINATION, NOT FACTION.
GREAT MEN.
POWER OF CONSTITUENTS.
INFLUENCE OF PLACE IN GOVERNMENT.
TAXATION INVOLVES PRINCIPLE.
GOOD MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
FISHERIES OF NEW ENGLAND.
PREPARATION FOR PARLIAMENT.
BATHURST AND AMERICA'S FUTURE.
CANDID POLICY.
WISDOM OF CONCESSION.
MAGNANIMITY.
DUTY OF REPRESENTATIVES.
PRUDENTIAL SILENCE.
COLONIAL TIES.
GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATION.
PARLIAMENT.
MORAL LEVELLERS.
PUBLIC SALARY AND PATRIOTIC SERVICE.
RATIONAL LIBERTY.
IRELAND AND MAGNA CHARTA.
COLONIES AND BRITISH CONSTITUTION.
RECIPROCAL CONFIDENCE.
PENSIONS AND THE CROWN.
COLONIAL PROGRESS.
FEUDAL PRINCIPLES AND MODERN TIMES.
RESTRICTIVE VIRTUES.
LIBELLERS OF HUMAN NATURE.
REFUSAL A REVENUE.
A PARTY MAN.
PATRIOTISM AND PUBLIC INCOME.
AMERICAN PROTESTANTISM.
RIGHT OF TAXATION.
CONTRACTED VIEWS.
ASSIMILATING POWER OF CONTACT.
PRUDENCE OF TIMELY REFORM.
DIFFICULTIES OF REFORMERS.
PHILOSOPHY OF COMMERCE.
THEORIZING POLITICIANS.
ECONOMY AND PUBLIC SPIRIT.
REFORM OUGHT TO BE PROGRESSIVE.
CIVIL FREEDOM.
TENDENCIES OF POWER.
INDIVIDUAL GOOD AND PUBLIC BENEFIT.
PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
CRUELTY AND COWARDICE.
BAD LAWS PRODUCE BASE SUBSERVIENCY.
FALSE REGRET.
BRITISH DOMINION IN EAST INDIA.
POLITICAL CHARITY.
EVILS OF DISTRACTION.
CHARLES FOX.
THE IMPRACTICABLE UNDESIRABLE.
CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONS.
EMOLUMENTS OF OFFICE.
MORAL DISTINCTIONS.
ELECTORS AND REPRESENTATIVES.
POPULAR OPINION A FALLACIOUS STANDARD.
ENGLISH REFORMATION.
PROSCRIPTION.
JUST FREEDOM.
ENGLAND'S EMBASSY TO AMERICA.
HOWARD, THE PHILANTHROPIST.
PARLIAMENTARY RETROSPECT.
PEOPLE AND PARLIAMENT.
REFORMED CIVIL LIST.
FRENCH AND ENGLISH REVOLUTION.
ARMED DISCIPLINE.
GILDED DESPOTISM.
OUR FRENCH DANGERS.
SIR GEORGE SAVILLE.
CORRUPTION NOT SELF-REFORMED.
THE BRIBED AND THE BRIBERS.
HYDER ALI.
REFORMATION AND ANARCHY CONTRASTED AND COMPARED.
CONFIDENCE AND JEALOUSY.
ECONOMY OF INJUSTICE.
SUBSISTENCE AND REVENUE.
AUTHORITY AND VENALITY.
PREROGATIVE OF THE CROWN AND PRIVILEGE OF PARLIAMENT.
BURKE AND FOX.
PEERS AND COMMONS.
NATURAL SELF-DESTRUCTION.
THE CARNATIC.
ABSTRACT THEORY OF HUMAN LIBERTY.
POLITICS AND THE PULPIT.
IDEA OF FRENCH REVOLUTION.
PATRIOTIC DISTINCTION.
KINGLY POWER NOT BASED ON POPULAR CHOICE.
PREACHING DEMOCRACY OF DISSENT.
JARGON OF REPUBLICANISM.
CONSERVATIVE PROGRESS OF INHERITED FREEDOM.
CONSERVATION AND CORRECTION.
HEREDITARY SUCCESSION OF ENGLISH CROWN.
LIMITS OF LEGISLATIVE CAPACITY.
OUR CONSTITUTION, NOT FABRICATED, BUT INHERITED.
LOW AIMS AND LOW INSTRUMENTS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS CONTRASTED WITH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
PROPERTY, MORE THAN ABILITY, REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT.
VIRTUE AND WISDOM QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT.
NATURAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
MARIE ANTOINETTE.
SPIRIT OF A GENTLEMAN AND THE SPIRIT OF RELIGION.
POWER SURVIVES OPINION.
CHIVALRY A MORALIZING CHARM.
SACREDNESS OF MORAL INSTINCTS.
PARENTAL EXPERIENCE.
REVOLUTIONARY SCENE.
ECONOMY ON STATE PRINCIPLES.
PHILOSOPHICAL VANITY; ITS MAXIMS, AND EFFECTS.
UNITY BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE.
TRIPLE BASIS OF FRENCH REVOLUTION.
I.—REGICIDE.
II.—JACOBINISM.
III.—ATHEISM.
CORRESPONDENT SYSTEM OF MANNERS AND MORALS.
FEROCITY OF JACOBINISM.
VOICE OF OPPRESSION.
BRITAIN VINDICATED IN HER WAR WITH FRANCE.
POLISH AND FRENCH REVOLUTION.
EUROPE IN 1789.
ATHEISM CANNOT REPENT.
OUTWARD DIGNITY OF THE CHURCH DEFENDED.
DANGER OF ABSTRACT VIEWS.
APPEAL TO IMPARTIALITY.
HISTORICAL ESTIMATE OF LOUIS XVI.
NEGATIVE RELIGION A NULLITY.
ANTECHAMBER OF REGICIDE.
TREMENDOUSNESS OF WAR.
ENGLISH OFFICERS.
DIPLOMACY OF HUMILIATION.
RELATION OF WEALTH TO NATIONAL DIGNITY.
AMBASSADORS OF INFAMY.
DIFFICULTY THE PATH TO GLORY.
ROBESPIERRE AND HIS COUNTERPARTS.
ACCUMULATION, A STATE PRINCIPLE.
WARNING FOR A NATION.
SANTERRE AND TALLIEN.
SIR SYDNEY SMITH.
A MORAL DISTINCTION.
INFIDELS AND THEIR POLICY.
WHAT A MINISTER SHOULD ATTEMPT.
LAW OF VICINITY.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY.
PERILS OF JACOBIN PEACE.
PARLIAMENTARY AND REGAL PREROGATIVE.
BURKE'S DESIGN IN HIS GREATEST WORK.
LORD KEPPEL.
"LABOURING POOR."
STATE CONSECRATED BY THE CHURCH.
FATE OF LOUIS XVIII.
NOBILITY.
LEGISLATION AND REPUBLICANS.
PRINCIPLE OF STATE-CONSECRATION.
BRITISH STABILITY.
LITERARY ATHEISTS.
CITY OF PARIS.
PRINCIPLE OF CHURCH PROPERTY.
PARSIMONY NOT ECONOMY.
MAJESTY OF THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION.
DUTY NOT BASED ON WILL.
ECCLESIASTICAL CONFISCATION.
MORAL OF HISTORY.
USE OF DEFECTS IN HISTORY.
SOCIAL CONTRACT.
PRESCRIPTIVE RIGHTS.
MADNESS OF INNOVATION.
THE STATE, ITS OWN REVENUE.
METAPHYSICAL DEPRAVITY.
PERSONAL AND ANCESTRAL CLAIMS.
MONASTIC AND PHILOSOPHIC SUPERSTITION.
DIFFICULTY AND WISDOM OF CORPORATE REFORM.
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER OF ENGLISH PROTESTANTISM.
FICTITIOUS LIBERTY.
FRENCH IGNORANCE OF ENGLISH CHARACTER.
THE "PEOPLE," AND "OMNIPOTENCE" OF PARLIAMENT.
MAGNANIMITY OF ENGLISH PEOPLE.
TRUE BASIS OF CIVIL SOCIETY.
ROUSSEAU.
MORAL HEROES.
KINGDOM OF FRANCE.
GRIEVANCE AND OPINION.
PERPLEXITY AND POLICY.
HISTORICAL INSTRUCTION.
MONTESQUIEU.
ARTICLES, AND SCRIPTURE.
PROBLEM OF LEGISLATION.
ORDER, LABOUR, AND PROPERTY.
REGICIDAL LEGISLATURE.
GOVERNMENT NOT TO BE RASHLY CENSURED.
ETIQUETTE.
ANCIENT ESTABLISHMENTS.
SENTIMENT AND POLICY.
PATRIOTISM.
NECESSITY, A RELATIVE TERM.
KING JOHN AND THE POPE.
CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCE.
"PRIESTS OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN."
"HIS GRACE."
SPECULATION AND HISTORY.
LABOUR AND WAGES.
A COMPLETE REVOLUTION.
BRITISH GOVERNMENT IN INDIA.
MONEY AND SCIENCE.
POLITICAL AXIOMS.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
X.
XI.
XII.
DISAPPOINTED AMBITION.
DIFFICULTY AN INSTRUCTOR.
SOVEREIGN JURISDICTIONS.
PRUDERY OF FALSE REFORM.
EXAGGERATION.
TACTICS OF CABAL.
GOVERNMENT, RELATIVE, NOT ABSOLUTE.
GENERAL VIEWS.
MAGNITUDE IN BUILDING.
SOCIETY AND SOLITUDE.
EAST-INDIA BILL AND COMPANY.
PARLIAMENTS AND ELECTIONS.
RELIGION AND MAGISTRACY.
PERSECUTION, FALSE IN THEORY.
IRISH LEGISLATION.
HENRY OF NAVARRE.
TEST ACTS.
WHAT FACTION OUGHT TO TEACH.
GRIEVANCES BY LAW.
REVOLUTIONARY POLITICS.
TOLERATION BECOME INTOLERANT.
WILKES AND RIGHT OF ELECTION.
ROCKINGHAM AND CONWAY.
POLITICS IN THE PULPIT.
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
KING ALFRED.
DRUIDS.
SAXON CONQUEST AND CONVERSION.
MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
MONASTIC INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR RESULTS.
COMMON LAW AND MAGNA CHARTA.
EUROPE AND THE NORMAN INVASION.
ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF BRITAIN.
PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS.
TRUE NATURE OF A JACOBIN WAR.
NATIONAL DIGNITY.
PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT NOT ABSOLUTE, BUT RELATIVE.
DECLARATION OF 1793.
MORAL DIET.
KING WILLIAM'S POLICY.
DISTEMPER OF REMEDY.
WAR AND WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
FALSE POLICY IN OUR FRENCH WAR.
MORAL ESSENCE MAKES A NATION.
PUBLIC SPIRIT.
PROGRESSIVE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN STATES.
PETTY INTERESTS.
PIUS VII.
EXTINCTION OF LOCAL PATRIOTISM.
WALPOLE AND HIS POLICY.
POLITICAL PEACE.
PUBLIC LOANS.
HISTORICAL STRICTURES.
CONSTITUTION NOT THE PEOPLE'S SLAVE.
MODERN "LIGHTS."
REPUBLICS IN THE ABSTRACT.
AN ENGLISH MONARCH.
PHYSIOGNOMY.
THE EYE.
ABOLITION AND USE OF PARLIAMENTS.
CROMWELL AND HIS CONTRASTS.
DELICACY.
CONFISCATION AND CURRENCY.
"OMNIPOTENCE OF CHURCH PLUNDER."
UGLINESS.
GRACE.
ELEGANCE AND SPECIOUSNESS.
THE BEAUTIFUL IN FEELING.
THE BEAUTIFUL IN SOUNDS.
BRITISH CHURCH.
INDEX.